Bush Candor Could Win the Day

Agree with him or not, you have to respect Jeb Bush's honesty. On two issues, immigration and a common core in education, Bush recently went on record stating positions at odds with some powerful activists in his own party.

In a speech in Florida last week, he came out solidly for immigration reform that includes giving legal status to the 11 million illegal immigrants who are living in the U.S. now (provided they pay fines, taxes and haven't committed crimes while here) and for a common core of knowledge that children in all states should be expected to learn. This is heresy to some Republicans, but just plain common sense to others, including those of us who consider ourselves Reagan Republicans.

But the most remarkable thing about his statement was its refreshing candor. He knew his remarks would be used against him -- and he didn't let that stop him. When so many politicians pander to prevailing opinion, it's refreshing to have someone refuse to play that game.

In terms of substance, Bush was following President Ronald Reagan's example.

On immigration, Reagan not only granted amnesty to some four million illegal immigrants in 1986, but he also was a longtime critic of those who wanted to shut our borders. In a 1977 radio address -- which, unlike most of today's politicians, he actually wrote -- Reagan said the following: "It makes one wonder about the illegal alien fuss. Are great numbers of our unemployed really victims of the illegal alien invasion, or are those illegal tourists actually doing work our own people won't do?" he asked. "One thing is certain in this hungry world; no regulation or law should be allowed if it results in crops rotting in the fields for lack of harvesters."

On education, too, Reagan believed in tough standards that all students should be required to meet. The modern education reform movement dates back to the Reagan presidency and the 1983 report "A Nation at Risk" issued by then Education Secretary William J. Bennett. Following the report, which showed American students lagging behind their foreign peers, many states moved to adopt standards that required students to master certain math, reading and writing skills at various grade levels.